Arsenal Set to Rival Manchester United for Mats Hummels Signing

Arsenal are reportedly set to rival Manchester United for the signing of Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels.

According to the Daily Mail, the Gunners are willing to match the £25m price tag to beat Manchester United to the punch.

Following the departure of Thomas Vermaelen, Arsene Wenger will be in the market to get a top-quality replacement for the Belgian and he has now turned his attention towards Manchester United target Hummels.

Louis van Gaal is a keen admirer of the defender and has been linked with a move all through the summer transfer window. United were front-runners for the signature of Vermaelen, but Wenger got his wish and sold the defender to Barcelona rather than strengthen a direct title rival.

Now with both managers making defensive re-enforcements a top priority, Van Gaal will be keen to get one over the Frenchman in the race for the German international.

However, the Bundesliga club are reluctant to let the defender leave, but reports suggest that a big offer in excess of £25m will tempt Dortmund to part with their player.

The World Cup winner has in the past admitted his desire to play at Old Trafford, and this could give United the edge over Arsenal. But, the Gunners do have an advantage of their own in the form of a sizeable German contingent already present at the north London club, and they could be used to tempt the player to choose the Emirates stadium over Old Trafford.

Meanwhile, Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has admitted his excitement over the club's new arrivals, and confesses that the new signings have already provided a big lift to him and his teammates.

"It's really exciting to see players like Alexis come in. It brings a good lift to the squad and I can feel it myself. You want to get to know them and try and impress them. You want to gel with them as quickly as possible," Oxlade-Chamberlain told Arsenal's official site.

"We haven't even seen Mesut Ozil yet and our German World Cup winners. When they come back, that will give us another lift. It's exciting times at the club," the England international added.